Monday, March 29, 2010

Wonderful Show @ JUNC on Saturday night in South Park. If you missed it, well all I can say is what a shame for you! I had so much fun and so many laughs.A few of us really got into the spirit of the show by dressing up in period attire to compliment the pieces and the overall show theme. The night really seemed to zip past. Viewing gorgeous work, meeting like-minded new people and carousing with friends,discussing art, plus shopping and a little wine.. well what more can you ask for? I'll let the pics do the talking.

Our lovely Curator, the talented Artist Jasmine Worth in this pic -

Just hours before embarking on her NYC journey, my wonderful pal & Performance Artist: Helaine Gawlica paid us a visit to show her support. (miss you already doll.)

Matt , (who helps me at my shows) with Jasmine and I.

My coffee-shop buddy Seth and I. (Thanks for coming out!)

Artists: Faith Lindley, Jasmine, and Vanessa Lemen.

Jeff and Dewey of JUNC.

Sharon (Dewey's Mom) and I enjoying a moment while discussing art & gardening.

Art patron and shopper happily perusing the wares at Junc.

I also had to include a shot of the gown Jeff designed for his label LAGO - a breath taking, sequined, stunner.

And on to the ART!

Jasmine Worth's grouping of pieces.Kristina Deak (me) - "Sad French Girl" (Mini print on canvas)Kristina Deak - "Ligeia" and "Ligeia's Apparition in the Bridal Chamber"Faith Lindley's amazing "Ligeia" portrait.Kelly Vivanco's - "Little Silver" Brett J. BarrettStacy D'Aguiar's fiercesome dragon seems right at home on the walls at JUNC! Two by Lindey Ivey.James Geiger.Kim Schwenk's "Annabel Lee."One of three gorgeous pieces from Vanessa Lemen - too bad, I couldn't photograph the other two good enough to post them due to my flash.James Ivey...and a ram-tastic belt at Junc I was admiring.

Aftershow: Finishing it up at the Asian Bistro in Hillcrest with Patti and the Kim's. Patti's mad mock-duck dish was a real hit with the vegetarians at the table!

Life is good, and I for one feel blessed to be in such good company. Thanks to all who came out to show their support.Can't wait for the next Junc show!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Unpacked from my wonderful, (albeit waay too short) mountain town Spring vacation and gearing up for tonight's show @ Junc! I'll be getting my Gibson Girl on proper with the right updo, some authentic mourning jewelry and a Victorian frock! I think it a kind of a modern day version of this traditional mourning gown illustrated in the old Sears & Roebuck catalog in 1889 -----> If you can't already tell ..I am really excited for this show and have been looking quite fowrard to it for weeks now. My pieces will include 2 paintings: My illustrated vision of the Poe character Ligeia, the fictitious female author of "The Conqueror Worm" according to Poe, and also I will be showing one previous work, a print of a similarly romantic and victorian feel that should fit into the theme nicely. Other than the sneek-peek on this flyer, that's all I'm telling for now, you'll have to come out and see for yourself!

Come and join the festivities, and drink in the artistic celebrations of the works of Edgar Allen Poe via paintings, illustrations and the unique visions conjured forth by local San Diego Artists. Details on the flyer and last minute RSVP here:

Monday, March 8, 2010

Because sometimes my mind is so drenched in the pop-iconic past of ancient tinsel-town imagery and horror genre mags or the monster movies of my childhood, that they all somehow manage to merge into my adult interests. Which dictates I should follow such urges like this. Luckily for me, this week my wallet knows better than to let me hit the button.But I find I am seriously tempted.

C'mon! A platypus photo postcard from Australia sent to the late horror-mogul Forrest J. Ackerman and from the ultra-angsty Kenneth Anger in 1986?

Hell, it's even handwritten in purple ink (Reads: "Greetings from a low-diver." - "Cheers, Ken.") in Anger's own scrawly style of penmanship. Other than the 70's era horror goodie nestled in my eBay watch-tab (which - if I actually win I will brag about later) it just doesn't get any low-brow better than that.

If not me, then one of my friends seriously needs to win this -just so I can say I touched it.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

And because after all I'm a girl, I sometimes like to talk about girly things like shopping. I had planned to go off in this entry about my $13 worth of blissful haul that I got at the Asian Market last night, and my little Ram trinket box from etsy.com (thanks to Jasmine for the recommendation on that little guy) but instead I'd like to talk some Junc.

Fashion junkie that I am, I still like to create my own looks on an individual level. So I often combine vintage thrift shop finds with custom made or newly bought boutique and designer items. Do I still wish GAMMA GAMMA, the now-defunct TUK UK , Plasticland and my pal Laura's old place The Assembly were still here in SD? Sure. But luckily we have great shops like The Crypt, and JUNC to uphold that tradition and keep my fashion needs satiated. Yay! That said, when I do buy new, I'm fussy. And not only do I like to support local shops, I prefer a unique neighborhood store to a shopping mall outlet any day! I LOVE a good sales event too!

I nabbed some killer Quipid® Victorian styled boots in black at the last one, and a wonderful Decmember Diamonds® Aquatini Mermaid as a gift for a buddy of mine over the holidays. The joint has everything! Virtually something for everyone and it truly is one of the most unique retail stores and gallery venues left in San Diego. No surprise it was Voted best retail store role model in City Beat 2009.The shop owner Jeffrey Parish hand selects the most fantastic clothing and accessories with an eye for detail and a sharp focus on not only the well-known design house names, but the independent Designer and local Artist as well. The inventory is always fresh, with ever changing creative displays and new merchandise. As is the case with all the best small-sized retail shops and galleries, they sometimes carry just one of each size.Therefore, with such limited quantities, they really do feature items you just don't see plastered on everyone else. So that way you never walk out of there worrying that you'll see your recent fashion purchase coming and going on another person.The staff is great, super friendly and knowledgeable.

lt takes me right back home to the small Philadelphia shops and design house boutiques in Old City and on South Street. The look of the shop is eclectic and definitely all it's own, but the feel celebrates the original vibe present in the East Villiage boutiques of NY. PLUS!! There's local ART on the walls from some of my friends as well as some of my own! (Squeeek!) I couldn't feel more at home there if I tried. You should totally check out both the sale and the South Park Walkabout as well as the Midnight Dreary Show at JUNC on March 27th.

I was going to blog today about current projects, upcoming March shows and include a bit about some great fun I had over the weekend. But later for that. Today's biggest and best news spotlight belongs to my dear friend, and student of Performance Studies at UCSD/Performance Artist Helaine Gawlica.

It's nice when the world sees what you have to offer and takes an interest. But, I also feel a great sense of balance and order in the world when it happens to notice one of my friends and their artistic visions.Helaine has been accepted into the 2010 EMERGENYC program at NYU!

I am proud to have been privy thus far and to bear witness to her creative journey. And I am elated to report that after seemingly endless studies, much toiling and endurance, that all her hard work and dedication to her craft has paid off.

I will miss knowing she's just around the corner from me. And on a local-level, the San Diego local art scene is surely going to miss her. However, I am quite certain NYC is never going to be the same after her visit. Please join me in congratulating and wishing her well on her artistic journey.

(Inset photo above: Helaine and I at JUNC - 11/2009)

On a personal note of Kudos: "Helaine, may your art always be larger than life and your appetite to create insatiable! Oh - and if you run into Yoko tell her I love her. Or maybe, just tear up some grapefruit in front of her or something." "In La Noia we trust...K~"